I have 2 years teaching experience at an American high school teaching ESL. I moved to the UAE a few months ago to teach English, and I'm absolutely miserable. I'm looking to get out as soon as possible.

I have close to 50,000 USD in student loans to pay off, and I was wondering where you think I can earn at least $2,500 AFTER expenses per month to pay the loan off in 2 years.

Before I became a certified teacher, I posted on here about the best paying ESL jobs, and someone had mentioned university positions in China. Are these still widely available, and is the compensation still good?

Are there high paying positions in Russian-speaking countries (i.e. Central Asia or Eastern Europe)?

I prefer to teach university students or adults, but I am open to high school students. Also, I would like to avoid the Middle East if possible.

You may end up taking a financial hit by exiting your UAE contract prematurely.

Anyway, since you hold licensure from the US, I suggest searching for job openings targeting licensed teachers for international schools in your desired regions/countries. (You'd best know if the culture is a good fit.) The better schools require a teaching qualification as well as relevant experience and education.

I hold an American ESL license and English Arts/Reading (Grades 7-12).
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My issue is I need about $2,500 per month AFTER expenses in order to pay off my student loans.

Your expectation of paying off $50,000 student loan debt in two years will limit you and may mean a compromise on living/work conditions (as you found out with the UAE). You might reconsider that financial goal for one that's more reasonable and attainable.

STEM subjects tend to be the highest paying -- ESL, not so much. Since you hold a license in ELA, that's likely your more marketable qualification because it would allow you to also teach the dependents of US expats in an IB or American-accredited private school. (I attended such a school at age 10 when my family was stationed in Taiwan.)

In addition to job ads for TESOL teachers, Google international school job sites for openings in ELA. Also check out International Schools Review, which focuses on teaching subject content rather than TESOL.

I'm willing to extend that 2 year goal into a 3 year one if I'm in a Russian-speaking region as I'm trying to learn the language.

I'm also open to staying past two years in Asia (i.e. China). I did a year in Taiwan and loved the culture, food, and attitude towards education.

If you were in my shoes, what would you do? (The Middle East is an absolute no-go for me).

Now if I'm set on paying off 50k USD in 24 months (willing to work summer language camps), what are my options? The China jobs I'm seeing seem to max out at 21,000 RMB (around $3,000 USD) before expenses.

I'm willing to extend that 2 year goal into a 3 year one if I'm in a Russian-speaking region as I'm trying to learn the language.
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If you were in my shoes, what would you do? (The Middle East is an absolute no-go for me).

Now if I'm set on paying off 50k USD in 24 months (willing to work summer language camps), what are my options?

Ironically, my teaching experience was entirely in the Mid East and included a high-paying contract with the US State Dept. Regardless, I personally wouldn't try to pay off a student loan debt of $50K in 2-3 years. For me, it's unrealistic. Student loans that high are usually paid down over a person's career.

The UAE has the highest number of English-medium international schools in the world. But you say you're miserable there.

Again, see my previous post about searching for TESOL and ELA positions to see what's out there in terms of salary and what your quals would net you. You may or may not find the level of pay you're seeking along with everything else on your wish list. You've set a financial goal that greatly limits your options.

I'm willing to extend that 2 year goal into a 3 year one if I'm in a Russian-speaking region as I'm trying to learn the language

Making 16,666 USD per year over and above living expenses teaching at university or high school level in any Russian-speaking region is unrealistic, unless you happened to get very lucky re: an international school position. And, as has already been pointed out, certification and experience in STEM subjects is far more sought-after for these rare positions than ESL or English Arts/Reading. These are subjects that are most often taught by qualified locals all over the European continent.

Make sure that the school/work environment is not the real issue you have as opposed to the region at large, because the Middle East is the only place you can realistically hope to pay off that student loan in 2-3 years.

If you're set on finding that elusive job somewhere else though, double check your resume and how it comes off. HR personnel sift through several applicants and if they see 'ESL' teacher, you may be deemed a backpacker and discarded. As you've already been told, you really need to market yourself as a certified Western teacher

Don't forget the Hong Kong NET Scheme. It is a good job with good saving potential. Very competitive to get a job.

I worked in Hong Kong from 1998-2004.

Hi Scott,

I've been checking out the NET scheme as well. The conditions appear generous. However, I've heard that they really work you like a dog. However, that's only what I've heard third hand. I'm not afraid of hard work, but, yeah, work/life balance is an important consideration. I know you haven't been doing it for a while, but, do you have any thoughts on that? Thanks.

When I worked there, your working conditions depended almost entirely on your principal and the quality of school you were working at.

Teachers in the upper band (the good schools) English medium schools were working a lot harder than those in lower band Chinese medium school. There was a Band 1 English medium school next to my Band 5 (there are only three bands now) Chinese medium school. I was expected to do a lot less work than the teacher in the other school. i stayed 6 years while the band 1 school went through 3 or 4 teachers.

It might be more equal now, everyone working fairly hard, but it wasn't so when I started. I was there the first year the NET scheme started so schools weren't really sure how to use the NET's.

Even if you are 'working a lot', you still get fairly good holidays. Two long holidays (six weeks) a year plus all of the local holidays which there are quite a few.

The teaching used to be quick dull as you were simply preparing students for their HK exams....done in Form 5 and Form 7 (seven forms in all in HK schools).

You should head over to the HK forum as it is still active and just scroll through the posts. You will probably get more up to date information.

I saved up $180,000 (Can) over the 6 years I was there and there were people who saved more. You don't make as much now, as the starting salary has dropped but you still get increases each year, and I think they housing allowance is higher than before.

There was a teaching couple from Australia that were both on the top end of the pay scale making $12000 (Can) a month each. They spent 4 years in HK and returned to Aus to retire.

I've heard of salaries above 21,000 RMB in international schools here in China. I'm currently at a university in China. They are typically the lowest paying gigs here.

Are you familiar with ISS Schrole https://iss-schrole.com/ ? They seem to have a good reputation for connecting licensed teachers with high-paying positions in international schools. I recently registered with them.

Would you be willing to share some details about why you're miserable in the UAE? I'm considering seeking a job with the Ministry of Education there due to the high pay.

5 years parochial teaching experience in your home country nets you a job at a REAL IB accredited school somewhere. There are many fake internationals out there. There is no international school police out there.

You said "I moved to the UAE a few months ago to teach English, and I'm absolutely miserable."

I don't doubt you are, I was in the region for 8 years and I had times I felt really down - as I'm sure many others here did when they were there. I found the first year the absolute worst; I'd go home at the start of the weekend and cry for a few hours. I had no Iqama, no bank account, no way to leave the country for a weekend, no friends to speak of, no internet, horrendous students, nasty management, back-stabbing colleagues, and no booze, pork, or female company. GOD IT WAS BAD. I was only motivated by the promise I'd given to complete a year and the money I got every month (in cash for the first six months, until I got my Iqama and bank account).

I'm not trying to detract from your experience, I just want to emphasise the first year in the middle east is almost always the worst for everyone. Call it a 'Right of Passage' if you will. I've known many teachers leave after the first year (or earlier) who had it much better than I did in mine, it does take a hell of a lot of getting used to. But as you acclimatize it does get easier, never easy but you adapt, change, and may even thrive in some circumstances.

I've worked with colleagues who've spent decades there, and are still there after the general reduction in remuneration. The stifling, weird, other-worldly environment almost becomes so familiar it's comforting when you return after your well-earned holiday in normality. The thousands keep on rolling into your home account every month, your debts lower more quickly than you could've hoped in the same job in your homeland, and you gradually come to accept that to rid yourself of those debts a few years in purgatory are worth it in the long run.